Simplicity & Complexity: w/Maggie Siner

Moving from simplicity to complexity, this oil painting workshop looks at how to find rhythm and tension in a single-object still life, and also how to structure and organize a very complex still life. What are the principles and practical methods of creating a meaningful composition out of random objects? How does one discover complexity in a single object? How does one order a mass of clutter into a coherent whole?

A strong observational painting is not a careful rendering of objects, but rather it is about the shapes, forces, energies and responses arising from how we see, in both a physical and emotional way. This is not a question of technique or ‘style’ – it’s about seeing, making choices and understanding what is important to lead the eye around the rectangle in a way that is both seen and felt. Previous painting experience needed.